In the hands of the Taliban

She was the chief reporter of the Sunday Express at the time, having spent nearly 10 years in Fleet Street working for several newspapers including The Sunday Times, The Observer, Daily Mirror, the News of the World and Independent on Sunday. Ridley set out as a regional journalist more than 35 years ago in her native North East. She has also worked as a broadcaster, producer and presenter on programmes for BBC TV and radio, CNN, ITN and Carlton TV travelling to Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine. A founder member of Women in Journalism, she was also a promoter of women’s rights, and is also a founder member of the Stop The War Coalition.

She was captured by the Taleban on an undercover assignment in Afghanistan.